A Curated Collection of Fine African Metalwork Auction Ending 5/30

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CEREMONIAL CALABASH HANDLE. Kirdi people, northeast Nigeria and northern Cameroon. Found in villages named Mora, Mokolo, and Yagoua. Was attached to a calabash with leather thongs that passed through holes at the ends of the arched blades (see picture). Punched designs decorated the arched blades. The blades rise to the top of the handle and after passing through an iron band they are transformed into open work formed by three twisted rods capped by a pointed cupola. One small ring of twisted iron wire hangs from each of the open work twisted rods. During ceremonial dances betrothed and married women held calabashes by these handles to demonstrate their status. On custom base. Hand forged iron. H13.5in.

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PAINTED SICKLE-FORM CEREMONIAL AX. Kota people (?), Gabon and Congo. A cord for carrying this ax was strung between the loops at the back of the blade and at the bottom of the handle. Dates from the early 1900s and used as dowry payment. Wooden and iron ceremonial objects were sometimes painted with enamel paints to make them more attractive. This ax was painted red with white dots. Some paint on the handle is worn away by use. On custom base. Hand forged iron, paint. H16.5in.

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SICKLE-FORM CEREMONIAL AX. Kirdi people, northeast Nigeria and northern Cameroon. The hooked blade is thought to represent the stylized head of a rooster, a bird considered to be sacred. The ax was displayed during burial ceremonies when it was held aloft by relatives of the deceased. The front surface of the blade is decorated with fine geometric punched designs. The curved section that joins the blade to the straight handle is wrapped in leather. A copper band is wrapped around the straight shaft which ends with a thin ring of twisted copper wire. The shaft is inserted into an iron ball. On custom base. Hand forged iron, copper. H14in.

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DECORATED BRACELET-FORM MANILLAS. Yoruba people, Nigeria. Decorated manillas were highly prized for ceremonial purposes. The decorative designs, which held meaning for the Yoruba people, were added by blacksmiths to manillas brought by European traders. Entire surfaces of both covered with spiral, circular and linear designs. Both mid-19th century. Each on custom base. (A) U-shaped with flared ends. H3.5in 2lb. (B) Round with flat ends. H4in 3lb.

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EUROPEAN AND CONGOLESE MANILLAS. Although Europeans brought large numbers of manillas to Africa, they were also produced as ingots by a number of African tribes who used them for trade among themselves. There is considerable evidence that the existence of manillas in West Africa predated the arrival of Europeans. (A) Birmingham bracelet-form manilla from Birmingham England. Mainly traded in Nigeria. The U-shaped form with large flared feet was greatly prized. Smooth surfaces typical of a European manilla. Late 1800s. On custom base. Copper alloy. H3in. (B) Onganda ring-shaped manilla. Jonga (Onga) people, Congo. Two facets on either side are separated by a wide, flat, shallow channel. The ends are slightly flared by hammering. Given as part of bride price (marriage dowry). The uneven surfaces are typical of manillas created in Africa. Mid-1800s. On custom base. Copper. H4.5in.